Miami’s problems with would-be touchdowns called back via penalty

CORAL GABLES — It appears Miami has had five touchdowns called back through six games in 2015, which is a problematic statement for several reasons.

According to a review of official play-by-play data, UM had a total of zero touchdowns directly wiped out via penalty from 2011-14, the first five years of the Al Golden era. But that’s not accurate, because play-by-play data doesn’t tell the whole story.

For example, the play-by-play data from the Miami-Nebraska game on Sept. 19 doesn’t show Mark Walton’s two touchdowns (see video) that were called back on holding penalties. It shows one as a 5-yard reception and the other as a 13-yard rush, because the referee called the play at the spot of the foul. Walton benefitted from the foul, in both cases scooting right past a teammate holding a defender and eventually reaching the end zone.

So can we really look at these plays as “touchdowns called back”? Probably not. They were certainly positive plays turned into negative ones, which is something that has happened to the Hurricanes a lot this season.

Miami, which is 13th of 14 ACC teams in penalty yards and 99th of 128 FBS teams nationally, isn’t just hurting from so-called wiped-out TDs. Every penalty affects the game in some way. UM had several major infractions that soon led to opposing scores, or seemingly minor calls like false starts that turned a second-and-6 into a much more difficult second-and-11, a touchdown into a field goal or a promising drive into a punt. Drive-killers.

In addition to Walton’s pair of “touchdowns” against Nebraska, he had a 13-yard touchdown reception called back in the first quarter against Virginia Tech. UM settled for a field goal. Two would-be touchdowns by Corn Elder — a 51-yard punt return against Cincinnati and 70-yard punt return Bethune-Cookman – were negated by holding calls.

All this is more evidence of a team that continues to hurt itself. Last season, UM had a long list of penalties that soon led to points for the opposition. To name a few:

Against Virginia, a roughing the kicker call on fourth-and-2, in the third quarter and Virginia up 13-7, led to a rushing touchdown three plays later. That made it 20-7. Miami lost 30-13. Against Georgia Tech, a pass interference in the second quarter helped the Yellow Jackets score a touchdown seven plays later. That tied the score at 14, in a game Miami lost 28-17.

Those stood up as the most critical. It doesn’t include sloppy plays in wins over Cincinnati (which scored three touchdowns on drives that included 15-yard infractions by UM); North Carolina (a late touchdown two plays after a facemask); Arkansas State (scored on the next play after a pass interference, cutting UM’s lead to 27-14 in the second quarter); and in the loss to Nebraska, in which 30 yards in personal fouls in the fourth quarter helped the Cornhuskers score to make it 41-24 with 4:07 left.

Up front: As it did against Virginia Tech – when it rolled out at least five offensive line combinations — UM continued to switch things up in Tuesday’s practice. UM’s first practice of Clemson week was the same as the starting group against the Hokies (left tackle Trevor Darling, left guard Kc McDermott, center Nick Linder, right guard Joe Brown and right tackle Danny Isidora), but they didn’t stay together for too long. Brown was pulled for Isidora, and Sunny Odogwu went in at right tackle on the second rep of practice. Also of note: before practice, Brown worked on his snapping with a reserve quarterback. It appears UM is sticking with the same group of seven (the above six and center/guard Alex Gall).

Knighton on Gameday: Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Hunter Knighton, who nearly died on UM’s practice field in Feb. 2014, will tell his comeback story to a national audience Saturday on ESPN’s College GameDay. ESPN’s crew filmed Knighton at practice Tuesday morning and planned to interview him and others afterward. Reporter Tom Rinaldi will narrate the piece.

On the call: Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman and Todd McShay will broadcast Miami-Clemson for ABC.

Author: Matt Porter

Matt Porter grew up in Gloucester, Mass., graduated from Emerson College and worked for the Boston Globe before joining the Post in 2009. He covers the University of Miami and college sports, and pitches in on coverage of South Florida sports teams including the Miami Heat and Miami Marlins.
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